masala
Britishnoun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of masala
from Urdu masalah, from Arabic masalih ingredients
Explanation
In South Asian food, masala is the particular mix of spices that makes a dish taste so good. Depending on the masala you use, your curry may be extra spicy! Many Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani cooks make their own special masalas for different dishes. A chickpea curry might use a masala that's heavy on the dried chiles, while a spicy, milky chai would be made with a masala that includes cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and other spices. Masala, borrowed from the Urdu masālā, "blend of spices," has an Arabic root.
Vocabulary lists containing masala
Foods from Asia
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5th Grade World Cuisine, List 1
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Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the main course, I enjoyed a classic — butter chicken — alongside a poached lobster tail in a green coconut masala with Mexican chili and coriander-mint purée.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026
Over nihari, a hearty stew served during celebrations, the family dreamt up a menu heavy with cumin, cardamom, garam masala and saffron while discussing their journey to America.
From Salon • Oct. 5, 2025
"I went back to them with the idea and they said, no, we want a proper evening meal bar of soap, something like beans on toast or a chicken tikka masala," she said.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025
Will jollof or efo riro follow in the footsteps of tikka masala or chow mein to become UK favourites?
From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024
When the onions are sizzling in the pot, Mama throws in fresh ginger, tomatoes, and spices to create the masala that forms the base of all her meals.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
